Illuminated-lens sign.



W. M. SCARBOROUGH.

ILLUMINATBD LENS SIGN. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 2, 1913.

1 ,104,008, Patented July 21, 1914.

WNW/5556.- y INVENTOI? a g k a/fer/ZSCarorogf/z 147' 7 0/?IVE K WALTER M. SCARBOROUGH, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUMINATED -LENS SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J My 21, 1914..

Application fi1ed.0ctober 2,1913. Serial No. 792,955.

To (ZZZ 'tC/l/Jl/b it may concern:

lie it known that I, WALTER M. SCARBOR- OUGH, a citizen of the United States, resi.d-

My invention relates to that form of sign composed of a metal sheet casing containing illuminating lamps and provided with orifices in which are inserted glass lenses, the orifices and lenses being arranged to form outlines of letters or other characters.

Heretofore various means have been employed for inserting the lenses in the ori-' fices. They have been fastened in place by cement and other adhesives; by shoulders,

grooves, lugs, etc., on the lenses cooperating with notches, lugs, tongues, etc, at the margins of the orifices, sometimes associated:

' with wire or washers arranged between the lugs and plate; by screw threads of difi'erent forms on the shanks of the lenses cooperating with notches or slits in the margins of These sei broken in the attempt to force them in place;

the face plate is distorted where a screw thread is used; permanently tight joints are not; always secured, and the lenses sometimes work loose and drop out; and the manufac ture of the face plates and lenses-equipped with the necessary securing means involves considerable expense.

The objects of my invention are to enable the face plates and lenses to be manufactured at a minimum of expense; to enable the lenses to be secured in place with expedition and by unskilled workmen; to avoid breakage of the lenses and distortion of the face plate; and to provide a permanently tight joint so that the lenses cannot work loose or out of position.

T will first describe a preferred embodiment of my invention and will then point out in the claims the essential features thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a face plate Wi h lenses in position; Fig.

2 is an enlarged rear view of the face-plate and one of the lenses showing the initial position of the lens in the operation of fastening it in position on a face plate; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the lens in final position on the face plate; Figs. 1 and 5 are enlarged crosssections on the lines 4-4 and 55 respectively of Fig. 8.

The face plate. aof the sign is provided with circular orifices b arranged to form the desired letter or character. The lens is composed of a rounded head 0 and a shank d of somewhat less diameter than the extreme diameter of the head, thereby forming an annular shoulder e on the under or inner side of the head surrounding the shank. These features are old and well known, being common to illuminated lens signs.

At one or more points along the margin of each orifice b is formed one or more notches f, in the face plate a, each notch opening into the orifice. Preferably there are two notches, diametrically opposite one to the other. On the shank cl of the corresponding lens is formed one or more'lugs g. Preferably there are two lugs, diametrically opposite one to the other, each of which is shaped, in cross section, to conform to the shape of the corresponding notch and is of a size enabling it to just pass through saidnotch. The space between the top of the lug and the shoulder e is substantially greater than the thickness of the plate. At another point or points in the face plate adjacent to the margin of the orifice b are formed one or more cams h i h. Preferably there are two of these cams, located diametrically opposite to each other, each cam being midway between the two notches. Preferably each camv is formed by upsetting the metal adjacent to the margin of the. orifice so asto form a pair of radially extending ridges 7t, 72,, separated by a depression The said ridges are raised to such height above the level of the inner face of the, face plate that one or the other of them (dependent upon the direction in which the lens is turned).

will contact with the face of the lug g'opposite "the shoulder e and offer resistance to itsfurther turning, but not sufficient resistance to prevent the lug turning beyond it and settling in the depression 2', which is also preferably raised above the level of the face plate but not so high above it as the ridges h, h. It may be desirable to make the engaging face of the lug slightly convex in brings the top. of the face of the lug opposite cured in place expeditiously by a boy or houlder, and ac'am on the inner or under or the apex thereof, to ride over the ridge,

ridges are so formed as'to permit a limited pense of manufacture is slight.

adjacent thereto, thus forming an annular Copies of H11: patent may be ob teined tor onan, which will aid in allowing the 111 To apply'the lens to the face plate the same is brought opposite the orifice in which y it is to be secured, with the lugs g alined. withthe notches f. The shank may thus be passed into the orifice untilth'e shoulder of the head rests againstthe face plate. This the shoulder 6 beyond the plane of the inner or under side of the face plate. Thelens' may then be freelv turned on its axis until the lugs 9 contact with two diametrically opposite ridges h. The workmancontinues to turn, against the resistance of the ridges, until the lugs override the ridges and settle in the depressions 2'. When the lugs are thus engaged with the depressions, the lens remains fixed in position, but even if the other unskilled Workman; there is no danv ger of breakage of the lens; the face plateremalns'abs'olutely unweakened; and the ex- Having now fully ,described' my invention, 'What I claim and desire to protect by Let f ters Patent is: e, v

1. Aysign comprising a face plate of sheet metal containing a substantially circular orifice having a notch: in the margin thereof, a lens having a. head and ashankof smaller diameter than the part of the head shoulder surrounding the shank on thefunder face of the headya lug formed on the side-of the shank and-spaced from the face of the plate adapted to frictionally engage the lug,uwhereby'the shank may be insorted in the orifice byI'egiStei'ing the lug five cents Washingtoml). C.- a

with the notch and the lens secured'infrictional engagement. with the face plate by turning the lens to'bri ng the lug into frictional contact with the cam. I V 2. A sign comprising a face plate of sheet metal containing a, a substantially circular opening-having-a notch in the margin there- 'of, a'lens having a head and a shank of smaller diameter than the part of the head adjacent thereto, thus forming an annular shoulder surrounding the shank on the under face of the head, and a lug formed on the side of the shankand spaced from the shoulder, the face plate being upset to form a ridge on its inner or under face adapted, after the lens has been nserted in the orifice and turned on its aXis,to frictionally engage the lug.

3. A sign comprising a face plate of sheet metal containing a substantially circular opening havmg a notch in the margin-thereof, a lens, having a head and a shankof' smaller diameter than the part of the head adjacent thereto, thus forming an annular shoulder surrounding'the shank on the under faceof the head, and alug formed on the side of the shank and spaced from the shoulder, the face plateibeing'upset toform, on its inner or under face, a pair of radially I extending ridges separated by a depression, said depression coop'eratmgwith the lug to prevent or limit theturni'ng of the lens after i the same'has been secured in position.

- A sign comprising a'face plate of sheet metal containing a substantially circular opening having a notch in-the margin thereof, a lens having a head and a shank of adjacent thereto, thus forming an annular shoulder surrounding the shank on theunder face of the head, a lug formed on the side of'the shank and spaced from said shoulder,

smaller diameter than the part of, the head t and a cam ontheinner. or under face of the face 'plate'compris ng a pan ,of rldges sepa ratedby depression, said cam cooperating with said1 lug to'secure the lens in position on'the face plate.

n Intestimony of-which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Lancaster, on th s 29th day of September, 1913. I I

I v WALTER Mi SCARBOROUGH.

WVitnesses: f j V c a CHAs'; E. Lone,

ED\VARD T. BRANDON.

each; by addressing. the Commissioner of Patents, 

